Department for Transport

*No heading*

lord berkeley: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of their specification for the new trains for HS2, what is the maximum electrical current draw per train permissible on (1) HS2 infrastructure, and (2) existing Network Rail infrastructure.

lord callanan: The specification for the new trains for HS2 Phase1 is currently being developed and will form part of the invitation to tender for rolling stock to be issued in 2018.

*No heading*

lord berkeley: Her Majesty's Government what modifications to the power supply (1) are planned, and (2) have been funded, to facilitate operation of HS2 services on Network Rail infrastructure.

lord callanan: HS2 Ltd and Network Rail are cooperatively engaged in determining the future power supply requirements for Network Rail routes over which HS2 services will operate. This work will take account of the requirements of all users of the routes and will identify the scope and timing requirements of any modifications that are identified as necessary. The output of these discussions will inform decisions around the planning and funding of any proposed works.

*No heading*

lord bradshaw: Her Majesty's Government how many interventions and modifications have they made since the Sheffield to Rotherham Tram Train pilot was launched; and to what extent these account for additional costs.

lord callanan: The only change to the agreed client outputs for the Sheffield to Rotherham Tram Train pilot project has been to the designs for electrification to ensure that, as much as practicable, it is future-proofed to allow for conversion to main line electrification (25kv AC) standards. The cost for this provision has been included in the overall project estimates.

*No heading*

lord bradshaw: Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 6 July (HL221), and in the light of their plans for Control Period 5 and the formal monitoring arrangements that are in place, what assessment they have made of whether sufficient funds will be available to complete the necessary track, signalling and electrical supply work by the end of 2019 to support the services that Virgin East Coast Trains is contracted to deliver by those dates.

lord callanan: Network Rail currently report they have sufficient funds to complete the infrastructure enhancements required for contracted improvements in Virgin Trains East Coast services by the end of 2019, including introducing new Intercity Express trains to replace older rolling stock. These improvements will provide greater capacity, improved customer experience and more direct connections.

*No heading*

lord bradshaw: Her Majesty's Government whether they are currently paying rental charges for the Intercity Express Programme trains which will be delivered before the electrification of the lines is completed; and if so, what is the total amount of those charges.

lord callanan: Payment for Intercity Express Programme (IEP) trains is made through Set Availability Payments (SAPs) which are due to be paid by Great Western Railway (the train operator) to Agility once the Great Western IEP fleet comes into service from this Autumn. The fleet is all bi-mode so the timing of electrification of the line is not a factor in this process. The amount of SAP charges payable is a commercial matter and not available for release.

*No heading*

lord kennedy of southwark: Her Majesty's Government what actionthey aretaking to improve the rail network around Bradford.

lord callanan: The Government’s investment in track and signalling infrastructure as part of the Great North Rail Project, and additional train services to be delivered through the new Northern franchise, will bring significant benefits to Bradford by providing more and faster services with new connections to Manchester, Manchester Airport, Liverpool, Warrington, Chester, Sheffield and Nottingham by the end of 2019 - all operated with brand new trains. Furthermore, additional direct trains to London are planned by the Virgin Trains East Coast franchise. Bradford is also benefiting from locally-sponsored investment in the rail network including the opening of two new stations at Low Moor and Apperley Bridge. The Department for Transport is working closely with Transport for the North to assess the case for Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) including whether the NPR network can serve key markets such as Bradford.

*No heading*

baroness hayter of kentish town: Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to convert EU Regulation (EC) 261/2004 relating to passenger rights during air travel into UK law; if so, what alterations will be made regarding the former intra-Community flights; and whether a resolution regarding the status of Gibraltar's airport is forthcoming.

lord callanan: The Government is considering carefully all the potential implications arising from the UK’s exit from the EU, including future arrangements for passenger rights. The Government plans to negotiate the best possible relationship between the UK and the EU in the field of aviation with a smooth and orderly transition.The Repeal Bill, introduced into the House of Commons on 13 July, will convert EU law as it stands at the moment of Exit into domestic law before we leave the EU. Application of EU Regulation (EC) 261/2004 to Gibraltar airport is currently suspended.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

*No heading*

lord lester of herne hill: Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the benefits and costs to the UK of membership of the European Union Intellectual Property Office.

lord prior of brampton: The Government recognises the importance of an effective and balanced intellectual property regime to support the UK's innovative and creative industries and to make the UK an attractive place for inward investment.In order to inform our position in the upcoming negotiations with the EU, the Government continues to undertake a rigorous and extensive programme of analysis, which includes intellectual property. The UK's future relationship with the EUIPO will be a matter for negotiations and so it would not be appropriate for me to discuss the details of any analysis now.

*No heading*

lord teverson: Her Majesty's Government what negotiations they have undertaken with other members of Euratom to continue the work of the Joint European Torus project at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy after 2018; and what resultthey hope to achieve.

lord prior of brampton: The Government is committed to ensuring that the UK continues to lead the world in fusion research [1]. We have taken action to secure the future of the Joint European Torus (JET) facility by guaranteeing the UK’s share of JET costs until the end of 2020.This underwriting of UK JET costs aims to provide the certainty needed to secure the extension of the JET contract and minimise the uncertainty around the future of this world class facility. The relevant Written Ministerial Statement can be found here:http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2017-06-27/HCWS13/.   [1] A 2016 independent review by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) found the UK fusion research programme to be ‘of world-class quality, in facilities, people and impact’.  



WMS on JET 27.06.17 HCWS13
(PDF Document, 55.34 KB)

*No heading*

lord lester of herne hill: Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the benefits and costs to the UK of membership of the European Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency.

lord prior of brampton: The European Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency is funded from the European Union budget. It is a Union Agency established to deliver the EU’s satellite navigation programmes Galileo and EGNOS. The Agency will be responsible for operating the systems, managing the services provided and for promoting their adoption to create new industrial markets.The Government recognises the benefits our involvement in these programmes brings for the UK.

*No heading*

lord hylton: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the TUC estimate that some 500,000 workers are on zero-hours contracts or in insecure temporary employment; and what percentage of the total workforce aged 21 to 65 this represents.

lord prior of brampton: The latest ONS Labour Force Survey shows that the number of people who report they are on a ‘zero hour contract’ in their main employment was 905,000 in the 4th quarter of 2016, which represents 2.8% of those in employment ages 16-65+, with nearly 70% happy with their hours.Due to the age categories in which ONS reports this data, it is not possible to get a figure for 21 to 65 years old.

*No heading*

lord hylton: Her Majesty's Government how many workers aged 21 to 65 are recognised as self-employed; and what percentage of the total workforce this represents.

lord prior of brampton: The latest ONS Labour Force Survey shows the number of people reporting to be self-employed was 4.8 million in the 4th quarter of 2016.Due to the age categories in which ONS reports this data, it is not possible to get a figure for 21 to 65 year olds.However, as a proportion of the total number of people in employment (31,713,000), self-employed people between the ages of 25 and 64 account for 13.1% of total employment. Self-employed people between the ages of 18 and 64 account for 13.7% of total employment.

*No heading*

lord rennard: Her Majesty's Government whether, and how, the wider social costs and benefits of regulations are taken into account by Government departments in (1) achieving their policy objectives for the business impact target, (2) the implementation of the One in, Three out rule announced by the Business Secretary on 3 March 2016, and (3) the application of the requirement to identify £3 in savings for each £1 of additional cost when assessing proposed new regulations.

lord prior of brampton: HM Treasury’s Green Book guidance on policy appraisal and evaluation sets out how the economic, financial, social and environmental assessments of a policy, or specification of regulations, should be combined. The Government has not yet decided how its better regulation system will operate in this Parliament. This includes any One-In, Two-Out policy and the setting of a target in respect of the economic impact of new regulation on business for this Parliament as required under section 21 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015.

*No heading*

lord rennard: Her Majesty's Government whether the Regulatory Policy Committee is empowered to rate an impact assessment as inadequate on the grounds that it does not adequately consider the wider social costs and benefits of proposed regulatory measures.

lord prior of brampton: The Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC) comments on the Government’s performance in assessing regulatory impacts as set out in Impact Assessments. These assessments should address the wider societal costs and benefits. The RPC sets out its view on the analysis contained in the impact assessments in its published Opinions and annual reports. Under its current remit, the RPC cannot rate an impact assessment as ‘not fit for purpose’ in relation to wider societal impacts at final stage. The Government has not yet decided what approach it will take to deliver better regulation during the current Parliament.

*No heading*

lord rennard: Her Majesty's Government what estimatesof (1) the value of lives saved, and (2) additional life years gained, they use when classifying proposed regulatory measures as “in”, “out” or “zero net cost” in departmental submissions to the Regulatory Policy Committee.

lord prior of brampton: HM Treasury’s Green Book guidance on policy appraisal and evaluation sets out how the economic, financial, social and environmental assessments of a policy, or specification of regulations, should be combined. It includes guidance on appraising social impacts, such as health and welfare benefits and prevented fatality and how to weight such considerations against other impacts.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

*No heading*

lord ashdown of norton-sub-hamdon: Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to raise concerns at the UNregarding the People’s Republicof China’s recentstatement onthe Sino–British Joint Declaration and the implementation of that treaty in recent years.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: ​The Government has no plans to raise our concerns at the United Nations.

*No heading*

lord hylton: Her Majesty's Government what action they propose to take to help protect democratically elected representatives and officials in Turkey from politicallymotivated prosecutions, and to safeguard Kurdish culture and language.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We expect Turkey to undertake any legal processes against MPs fairly, transparently and with full respect for the rule of law. We take a strong interest in the situation of minority groups in Turkey and encourage the Turkish authorities to safeguard their welfare. We will continue to engage closely with the Turkish government on these issues.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Paediatrics: Audiology

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what funding contingencies are in place in the event that the UK exiting the EU results in a drop in foreign nationals studying in Britain and Northern Ireland.

lord hunt of kings heath: Her Majesty's Government how many NHS Trusts achieved Improving Quality in Physiological Services accreditation for their paediatric audiology service in each of the last five financial years.

lord hunt of kings heath: Her Majesty's Government how many contracts for Specialist Audiology Services used by children, and commissioned directly by NHS England, were signed in the financial years (1) 2015-16, and (2) 2016-17.

lord hunt of kings heath: Her Majesty's Government how many contracts for Specialist Audiology Services used by children, and commissioned directly by NHS England, are due to be renegotiated in the financial year 2017-18.

lord hunt of kings heath: Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to ensure that Clinical Commissioning Groups are notified when a paediatric audiology service does not meet the standards for Improving Quality in Physiological Services accreditation following an assessment visit.

lord hunt of kings heath: Her Majesty's Government which organisation is responsible for ensuring that a paediatric audiology service that has not met the standards for Improving Quality in Physiological Services (IQIPS) accreditation addresses the problems found during the accreditation visit.

lord hunt of kings heath: Her Majesty's Government how many NHS Trusts achieved Improving Quality in Physiological Services accreditation for their paediatric audiology service in each of the last five financial years.

lord hunt of kings heath: Her Majesty's Government how many contracts for Specialist Audiology Services used by children, and commissioned directly by NHS England, were signed in the financial years (1) 2015-16, and (2) 2016-17.

lord hunt of kings heath: Her Majesty's Government how many contracts for Specialist Audiology Services used by children, and commissioned directly by NHS England, are due to be renegotiated in the financial year 2017-18.

lord hunt of kings heath: Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to ensure that Clinical Commissioning Groups are notified when a paediatric audiology service does not meet the standards for Improving Quality in Physiological Services accreditation following an assessment visit.

baroness chisholm of owlpen: The Improving Quality in Physiological Services (IQIPS) accreditation scheme is run by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). The process of accreditation provides an independent assessment that a service meets the accreditation standards. It is the responsibility of the service to ensure that they conform to the standard before application to UKAS for accreditation. There is a pre-registration process within the scheme that enables all services to be able to do an effective gap analysis so that they should be at a point of conforming to the standard on making an application to UKAS. If during an assessment mandatory findings are raised which show non-conformity to any part of the standard then the service agrees appropriate improvement actions with the UKAS team to rectify these and prevent re-occurrence. The UKAS team base their recommendation for accreditation on the findings raised relating to the conformity to the standard, risk and whether the agreed improvement actions are appropriate and can be achieved within a three month close-out period. Therefore any findings raised must be cleared by the organisation if a positive recommendation for accreditation is to be granted. In Commissioning Services for People with Hearing Loss: A framework for clinical commissioning groups, published in July 2016, NHS England strongly encourages clinical commissioning groups to expect providers to have completed the IQIPS self-assessment tool and applied for accreditation with UKAS, and achieve accreditation within the duration of their contract. UKAS are supporting the NHS England business objective to increase the use of accreditation, and information about those services which have achieved accreditation is not held by the Department or NHS England, but is publicly available on the UKAS website. Information on clinical contracts is not held centrally by NHS England.

Department for International Development

*No heading*

lord mcinnes of kilwinning: Her Majesty's Government, following the capture of Mosul by the government of Iraq, how they will be working with the government of Iraq to aid the return of those who fled the city when it was captured by Isil.

lord bates: The UK works with the Government of Iraq (GOI) to aid the return of those who fled Mosul through the GOI Joint Coordination and Monitoring Centre (JCMC) in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Joint Crisis Coordination Centre (JCC) in Erbil. These institutions work together with other partners, including the UN, to coordinate humanitarian support for Iraqis who are still displaced as well as those who are returning home. Through the UN’s Funding Facility for Immediate Stabilisation, the UK is supporting the Government of Iraq’s efforts to enable people to return home – for example, by restoring water infrastructure in East Mosul. 90% of East Mosul’s residents have now returned to their homes.

*No heading*

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government whether they are increasing financial support for those living in refugee camps on the Burma–Thailand border, and what is their assessment ofthe danger of refugees being forced back to Burma as a result of cuts in aid to those camps.

lord bates: DFID has no current plans to increase financial support for those living in refugee camps on the Burma-Thailand border. We do not currently asses that refugees will be forced back into Burma. We continue to monitor the situation closely.

*No heading*

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government how they intend to ensure their emergency funding for displaced people from Mosul and the Nineveh Plains reaches displaced minorities such as the Yazidis and Christians; and what assessment they have made of the extent to whichtheir policy of neutrality and impartiality will lead to the inclusion or exclusion of those who have been subject to genocide.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government how they intend to ensure their emergency funding for displaced people from Mosul and the Nineveh Plains reaches displaced minorities such as the Yazidis and Christians; and what assessment they have made of the extent to whichtheir policy of neutrality and impartiality will lead to the inclusion or exclusion of those who have been subject to genocide.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government whether they have received a request from Dr Russell Blacker and representatives of charities and relief organisations involved with northern Iraq, along with Members of both Houses, for an urgent meeting with the Secretary of State for International Development, to discuss support for minority communities subjected to genocide in northern Iraq; and, if so, how they intend to respond.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports (1) that Christians and Yazidis who have been victims of genocide in Syria and Iraq do not use UN camps because of oppression and persecution that they have experienced within them, and (2) from Jordanian military officials that ISIS jihadis have infiltrated many such camps.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government whether Department for International Development assessors arranged to meet (1) twice with Christians in the Kurdish–Northern Iraq regions, and (2) with those who have given evidence to DfID about the failure to provide support to victims of genocide in northern Iraq and Syria; and if so, whether those assessors failed to attend those meetings in 2015 and subsequently.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government whether they have received a request from Dr Russell Blacker and representatives of charities and relief organisations involved with northern Iraq, along with Members of both Houses, for an urgent meeting with the Secretary of State for International Development, to discuss support for minority communities subjected to genocide in northern Iraq; and, if so, how they intend to respond.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports (1) that Christians and Yazidis who have been victims of genocide in Syria and Iraq do not use UN camps because of oppression and persecution that they have experienced within them, and (2) from Jordanian military officials that ISIS jihadis have infiltrated many such camps.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government whether Department for International Development assessors arranged to meet (1) twice with Christians in the Kurdish–Northern Iraq regions, and (2) with those who have given evidence to DfID about the failure to provide support to victims of genocide in northern Iraq and Syria; and if so, whether those assessors failed to attend those meetings in 2015 and subsequently.

lord bates: The UK Government recognises the specific risks faced by religious minorities in Iraq and Syria, including those who have suffered so horrifically at the hands of Daesh. We are aware of reports that fear of persecution or discrimination in camps may be deterring some people from using them, and are in close touch with our partners involved in the management of camps and the delivery of services within them, including UN agencies. They have clear guidelines, mechanisms and accountability frameworks in place to prevent discrimination by their own staff or those of their partners. DFID takes any allegations that these are not being applied effectively very seriously, and stands ready to follow up specific allegations with the partners concerned. The security of the camps and all those living in them is the responsibility of the appropriate civil authorities (e.g. in Iraq, it lies with the Government of Iraq) and is monitored by independent humanitarian actors such as UNHCR. UK officials stand ready to report any specific allegations of persecution or violence against religious minorities within the camps to those authorities. The Government is concerned about Daesh infiltration inside camps. In Iraq the Iraqi authorities carry out screening of those entering camps in order to seek to prevent such infiltration. UN agencies have set up grievance mechanisms that allow any minority member to anonymously report abuse, persecution or discrimination; these can also be used to report on suspected extremist activity. DFID’s funding for Iraq is targeted towards those who are most in need including vulnerable people from minority communities such as Yazidis and Christians. It is delivered in line with the 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for the whole of Iraq, which is based on comprehensive needs assessments carried out by a wide range of partners. The humanitarian principles of neutrality and impartiality aim to ensure that no one is excluded or discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, or religion, that the specific risks facing minorities are addressed and that assistance reaches those who need it most. In the difficult environments in Syria and Iraq, where access to vulnerable people is often very challenging especially as some actors such as Daesh and the Assad regime deliberately prevent humanitarian access, DFID regularly challenges our partners to demonstrate that they are doing all they can to meet the needs the most vulnerable people, including those from religious minorities. We welcome information from all sources to help us to hold them to account. DFID is not aware of scheduled meetings in 2015 with Christian representatives in Iraq that officials did not attend, but DFID officials regularly meet with representatives of Iraqi Christian and Yezidi communities. DFID Ministers have also met representatives of these communities. DFID has received Dr Russell Blacker’s correspondence and has responded suggesting a meeting is organised with Dr Blacker, Lord Bates and Mr Burt to discuss together.

*No heading*

lord judd: Her Majesty's Government what action they have taken to ensure that UK funding which is intended to mitigate the migration crisis in the central Mediterranean is not used to finance the indefinite detention of migrant and refugee children.

lord bates: The UK contribution to the Mediterranean migration crisis is delivered through trusted humanitarian agencies such as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Through these agencies, UK aid in detention centres is specifically designed to protect migrants’ and refugees’ human rights and meet basic needs, including by advocating for alternatives to detention for vulnerable groups like children. We also assist migrants to return home, if they wish to do so.

*No heading*

lord judd: Her Majesty's Government what measures they have put in place to ensure that UK funding which is intended to address the central Mediterranean migration crisis is not used to finance the increased detention of refugees and migrants in a manner which denies them their right to asylum.

lord bates: The UK contribution to the Mediterranean migration crisis is delivered through trusted humanitarian agencies such as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). As the UN agency mandated to protect and support refugees, UK support for UNHCR is specifically designed to help ensure that refugees are supported to access asylum procedures. UK assistance inside detention centres is not provided to increase detention capacity, but to protect migrants’ and refugees’ human rights and meet basic needs, including by advocating for alternatives to detention for vulnerable groups. We also assist migrants to return home, if they wish to do so.

*No heading*

lord judd: Her Majesty's Government what measures they have put in place to ensure that UK funding provided in response to the central Mediterranean migration crisis is utilised in a way that protects vulnerable migrants and refugees.

lord bates: The UK contribution to the Mediterranean migration crisis is delivered through trusted humanitarian agencies such as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Our programmes take account of context and risks, as well as humanitarian principles, and are designed to provide life-saving assistance and protection for the most vulnerable migrants and refugees.The Department for International Development holds partners to account for ensuring the protection of vulnerable migrants and refugees by using robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks which enable tracking of project performance. Visits to project sites, including by staff located in the region, enable us to cross-check partner reports and ensure that funding is being used as agreed, and monitor risk and human rights compliance.

*No heading*

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to call for ethnic and religious minorities to be added to the UN’s diversity approach to humanitarian assistance; and what assessment they have made of the extent to which UN agencies have (1) protected religious freedom, (2) guaranteed the safety of religious minorities within their remits, and (3) provided equal and impartial support and access to services.

lord bates: The UK’s humanitarian aid operates under International Humanitarian Law and is provided based on need. It must be available to people of all faiths and of none. All UN agencies are required to carry out comprehensive vulnerability assessments to ensure aid is reaching those most in need, including those from religious minorities. We do not intend to call for ethnic and religious minorities to be added. The Multilateral Development Review restated our vision of building open societies, where no-one is held back by their gender, ethnic group, sexual orientation, disability or belief system.

Department for Education

*No heading*

lord hunt of kings heath: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report of the Institute for Fiscal Studies on the public cost of student loans.

viscount younger of leckie: The Government has noted the recent report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies. The student funding system is fair and sustainable. The cost of the system is not an unintended loss, nor a waste of public money. It is the policy subsidy required to make higher education widely available, achieving the Government’s objectives of increasing the skills in the economy and ensuring access to university for all with the potential to benefit. Andreas Schleicher of the OECD said in September 2016 that “the UK has been able to meet rising demand for tertiary education with more resources…by finding effective ways to share the costs and benefits”.

*No heading*

lord hunt of kings heath: Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the long-term cost of providing student loans.

viscount younger of leckie: The Government’s reforms to the undergraduate student finance system have ensured that it is financially sustainable for the taxpayer in the long-term, while enabling those with the talent to benefit from a higher education to be able to afford to do so. The Resource Accounting and Budgeting (RAB) charge estimates the value of loans that will not be repaid during their 30-year term, expressed as a percentage of the loan outlay made in the relevant year. For full time tuition fee and maintenance loans and part time fee loans issued in 2016/17, we estimate the RAB charge to be around 30%.

*No heading*

baroness hodgson of abinger: Her Majesty's Government how those women’s rights enshrined in EU law will be safeguarded once the UK has left the EU.

lord nash: The Government wants to preserve the UK’s proud record of promoting equality and tackling discrimination through some of the strongest laws in the world. We have been clear that all protections contained in the Equality Act 2006, the Equality Act 2010, and equivalent legislation in Northern Ireland, will continue to apply after we have left the EU. Moreover, the Repeal Bill will ensure that all workers' rights that are derived from EU law, including those enjoyed by women, will continue to be available in UK law after we have left the EU.

Ministry of Justice

*No heading*

baroness stern: Her Majesty's Government whether the secure escort services for children and young people contract between the Youth Justice Board and Serco was terminated early; and if so, for what reasons.

lord keen of elie: The Secure Escort Services for Children and Young People (SESCYP) Contract ended early on 30 June 2016. This was mutually agreed between the Ministry of Justice and the contractor, Serco plc.

*No heading*

baroness stern: Her Majesty's Government what date GeoAmey commenced its contract to run secure escort services for children and young people; what was (1) the valueof that contract, and (2)the duration of that contract; and who is responsible within Government for overseeing the delivery of the contract.

lord keen of elie: GeoAmey commenced the provision of Secure Escort Services for Children and Young People from 1 July 2016. The annual value of the service is estimated to be in the region of £3.2 - 3.7m according to the volume of services provided. The duration of the provision of the services is 1 July 2016 to 28 August 2018, with options to further extend the contract by three further periods of twelve months. The Youth Justice Board (YJB) is responsible for overseeing the delivery of the contract alongside the Ministry of Justice.

*No heading*

baroness stern: Her Majesty's Government whether the Minimising and Managing Physical Restraint techniques were adapted for use on younger andsmaller children,prior toescort custody officersbeing trained and authorised to use them on children travelling to and from secure training centres and secure children's homes.

lord keen of elie: Minimising and Managing Physical Restraint (MMPR) has been specifically developed for use by staff working with children and young people in custody. It has been designed so that physical restraint is avoided as far as possible by recognising young people’s behaviour, and by using a range of de-escalation, diversion and behaviour management techniques to help them deal with it effectively and appropriately. MMPR was initially used in secure training centres, and is now being operationally used by the Youth Justice Board’s secure escort provider, who escort children to and from court, secure training centres, and secure children’s homes.

*No heading*

baroness stern: Her Majesty's Government what action they have taken to ensure the safety of boys aged 18 and under detained by Feltham Young Offenders Institution following Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons' assessment that "Feltham A is, quite simply, not safe for either staff or boys."

lord keen of elie: Safety in prisons and young offender institutions is fundamental to the proper functioning of our justice system and addressing safety concerns is at the heart of our reform plans. We are committed to reforming youth custody so that it is safer for both young people and staff and better equipped to help young people turn their lives around. Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons' inspection took place from 23 January to 3 February 2017. The findings highlighted a need for improvement in the youth custodial estate and we are continuing to take robust action to address the issues identified. At Feltham A, which holds boys aged 15 to 18, we have implemented a range of measures to improve safety including:We are recruiting additional staff at Feltham as part of our overall reform to improve safety and rehabilitation. We are providing young people with a personalised officer to work with on a weekly basis to develop goal-orientated plans, delivered as part of the Custody Support Plan roll-out. We are progressing with a conflict resolution model to resolve issues between young people in our care. We are putting in place a revised core day which will facilitate nine hours out of room to effectively occupy the young people in our care. We continue to deliver a suite of group and one to one interventions and facilitators have now been trained in Anger Replacement therapy which will be delivered to young peoplestarting in July 2017. A new approach to the use of special accommodation has been introduced with the use of a cool down room with appropriate furnishings as an alternative intervention to separation. In addition, funding has been allocated for the refurbishment of the Enhanced Support Unit for young people with exceptionally complex needs that are unlikely to respond to mainstream services.We are confident that we are taking proper and considered action in delivering changes to improve safety and outcomes for the young people in our care at HMP Feltham.

Ministry of Defence

*No heading*

lord de mauley: Her Majesty's Government when the United Kingdom Reserve Forces External Scrutiny Team 2017 report was submitted to the Ministry of Defence; and when it will be published.

earl howe: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Sir Michael Fallon) received the External Scrutiny Team's 2017 report on 22 June and it has today been placed in the Library of the House. We are most grateful to the Team for its work and we will provide a full response to the report in due course.



External Scrutiny Team 2007 Report
(PDF Document, 2.98 MB)

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

*No heading*

baroness hayter of kentish town: Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to convert EU Regulation 511/2014 into UK law; and, if so, which UK body will assume the role undertaken by the European Commission for determining best practice regarding genetic material and ensuring the continued progress towards the objectives of the Nagoya Protocol.

lord gardiner of kimble: The Repeal Bill will make sure the whole body of existing EU environmental law continues to have effect in UK law. This will provide businesses and stakeholders with maximum certainty as we leave the EU. The Secretary of State currently has responsibility for ensuring progress towards the objectives of the Nagoya Protocol, including promoting best practices, and this will continue after EU exit. Best practices are one way for users of genetic resources to demonstrate compliance and, where recognised on the international level, to build confidence in our national regime. Recognition of best practices will therefore remain an important part of our implementation. No decision has yet been taken on which UK body will assume this function.

*No heading*

baroness hayter of kentish town: Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to convert EU Regulation 995/2010 into UK law; and if so, whether the UK will continue to recognise monitoring organisations for timber and timber products that previously served the UK market but which are located outside the UK.

lord gardiner of kimble: The Repeal Bill will ensure the whole body of existing EU environmental law continues to have effect in UK law. This will provide businesses and stakeholders with maximum certainty as we leave the EU. No decision has yet been taken on the approach to UK recognition of monitoring organisations for timber and timber products that previously served the UK market but which are located outside the UK.

*No heading*

baroness hayter of kentish town: Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to convert EU Regulation 1102/2008 into UK law; and, if so, whether a body will assume the role undertaken by the European Commission for reviewing ongoing research activities and ensuring complianceby the Environment Agency, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

lord gardiner of kimble: Regulation (EC) No 1102/2008 will be repealed with effect from 1 January 2018 by EU Regulation 2017/852.This regulation will be directly applicable in the UK, and as an EU member, we will also make secondary legislation to set enforcement rules for the new requirements later this year. This will enable the UK to meet its global commitment to reducing the harmful impact of mercury as a signatory of the UN’s Minamata Convention on mercury.The Government will discuss with the EU and Member States how best to continue cooperation in the field of chemicals regulation in the best interests of both the UK and the EU. It would not be appropriate to pre-judge the outcome of the negotiations at this stage.

*No heading*

baroness hayter of kentish town: Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to convert EU Regulation 1907/2006 into UK law; and, if so, (1) whether the UK will attempt to maintain co-operation with the European Chemicals Agency, and (2) whether a body will assume the role of the European Chemicals Agency in regulating and registering chemical substances.

lord gardiner of kimble: Regulation (EC) No 1102/2008 will be repealed with effect from 1 January 2018 by EU Regulation 2017/852.This regulation will be directly applicable in the UK, and as an EU member, we will also make secondary legislation to set enforcement rules for the new requirements later this year. This will enable the UK to meet its global commitment to reducing the harmful impact of mercury as a signatory of the UN’s Minamata Convention on mercury.The Government will discuss with the EU and Member States how best to continue cooperation in the field of chemicals regulation in the best interests of both the UK and the EU. It would not be appropriate to pre-judge the outcome of the negotiations at this stage.

*No heading*

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of recent research on the effect of neonicotinoid pesticides on the UK bee population, what is their assessment of the merits of a ban on their use in the UK.

lord gardiner of kimble: Decisions on the use of pesticides should protect people and the environment and should be based on a careful scientific assessment of the risks. Pesticides that carry unacceptable risks to pollinators should not be authorised.The Government keeps the developing evidence on neonicotinoids under review, advised by the UK Expert Committee on Pesticides. On the basis of current available evidence, we support the existing restrictions.

*No heading*

lord hylton: Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the UN Oceans Conference on 5–9 June and the Council of the European Union Environment Council on 19 June, what plans they have to reduce, and if possible eliminate, the pollution of oceans, seas and beaches by plastic materials.

lord gardiner of kimble: At the recent UN Oceans Conference the UK made several voluntary commitments, including signing up to the UN’s CleanSeas campaign. This programme aims to transform habits, practices, standards and policies around the globe to dramatically reduce marine litter and the harm it causes.The UK Government has undertaken several key actions to protect the marine environment from marine litter which are set out in the Marine Strategy Part Three. Recent additional actions include the publication of the National Litter Strategy for England and our plans to ban microbeads in cosmetics and personal care products. We also work with neighbouring countries to address this issue, particularly through the OSPAR Regional Action Plan on marine litter.

*No heading*

lord lester of herne hill: Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the benefits and costs to the UK of membership of the European Fisheries ControlAgency.

lord gardiner of kimble: The European Fisheries Control Agency (EFCA) is funded from the EU budget, to which the UK is the second largest net contributor.

*No heading*

lord lester of herne hill: Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the benefits and costs to the UK of membership of the European Chemicals Agency.

lord gardiner of kimble: The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) provides a range of centralised functions across a number of EU chemicals regimes, including facilitating collective decisions amongst EU Member States. Under the EU REACH Regulation, it manages data about chemicals on the EU market. Chemicals manufactured or imported in quantities above 1 tonne a year must be registered with ECHA to access the single market.The UK’s current involvement with ECHA comes as part of our membership of EU. ECHA is funded mainly through a combination of industry fees for a variety of the services it provides and direct EU funding. The higher the income generated from fees, the lower the EU budget subsidy. As ECHA is an agency of the EU, the UK’s contribution to its running costs is through our general contribution to the EU budget.

*No heading*

lord bradshaw: Her Majesty's Government what are the comparative statistics for air quality in (1) Nottingham, Southampton and Derby, which are proposed Clean Air Zones, and (2) the City of Bath.

lord gardiner of kimble: The report Air pollution in the UK 2015, which was published in September 2016, reported all four locations to be compliant in all air pollutants levels with the exception of the mean annual concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) that were all reported to be above the 40 μg/m3 limit value.The 2015 national air quality plan for NO2 showed the highest projected mean annual concentrations of NO2 to be 42 μg/m3, 41 μg/m3, 43 μg/m3 and 35 μg/m3 in 2020, for the respective air quality zones for Nottingham, Southampton, Derby and Bath. The projections modelling is being updated to take into account the latest evidence and the final revised air quality plan will be published by 31 July, following consideration of consultation responses.

Home Office

*No heading*

baroness uddin: Her Majesty's Government whether they are considering a public safety awareness campaign of the danger of acid attacks; and what advice is being given to individuals and emergency services to minimise long-term physical deformity.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office are working closely with a range of partners and agencies to consider the response to acid attacks including what advice is needed for individuals and medical practitioners to respond to these incidents. On 4 July, the Home Office and the National Police Chief’s Council jointly hosted a meeting with medical experts, police, retailers, and officials from a number of Government departments and agencies to share understanding about the nature of attacks and discussed action being taken by the respective agencies.

*No heading*

lord kennedy of southwark: Her Majesty's Government how many operational firefighters were in postin each of the Fire and Rescue Authorities in England and Wales from 2010until the last year for which figures are available.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office collect and publish data on fire and rescue workforce in England.The number of fire fighters in each fire and rescue authority since 2010 is published in table FIRE1101 please see attached and also it can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/562338/fire-statistics-data-tables-fire1101.xlsx . The figures are a snapshot of the workforce at 31 March in each year. Figures for 2017 will be available later this year.The number of firefighters employed by fire and rescue authorities by FRSs in Wales is published by the Welsh government and can be found here: https://statswales.gov.wales/Catalogue/Community-Safety-and-Social-Inclusion/Community-Safety/Fire-Service-Operational-Statistics/fireandrescueservicesummaryinformation-by-asset-financialyear



Table - FIRE 1101 
(Excel SpreadSheet, 262 KB)

*No heading*

lord ouseley: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have madeof the survey commissioned by the Criminal Justice Alliance, published on 29 June, which found that more than a third of BAME people aged 16 to 30 did not believe police used fair information to decide whom they stopped and searched; andwhat assessment they have madeof the extent to which the use of stop and search powers unfairly targets BAMEcommunities.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government notes the concerning findings in the Criminal Justice Alliance’s report.Launched in 2014, the Government’s reforms to the use of stop and search powers have helped forces improve their use significantly. Prior to this, the facts around use of stop and search powers were alarming: only 9% of over 1 million stop and searches resulted in an arrest; you were 7 times more likely to be stopped and searched if black; and HMIC found that almost a third of police stop and search records showed a potential unlawful search. This contrasts with the picture now, which shows a more targeted and intelligence led approach, with fewer searches and an arrest rate at its highest on record, standing at 16%. Additionally, HMIC has recently found that more stop and search records contain reasonable grounds for suspicion, indicating improvements in officer knowledge of the legal basis of most stop and search powers.The latest statistics, which show that you are 3 times more likely to be stopped and searched if you are from a BAME background, and 6 times more likely if you are black, is, however, a clear indication that there is no room for complacency. The Government will continue to push through reforms to stop and search together with its partners - the College of Policing and National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC). However, it is vital that chief officers provide the local direction and focus needed to drive reform in their forces.

*No heading*

lord ouseley: Her Majesty's Government how many BAME (1) men, and (2) women, hold senior and chief officer positions in police constabularies in England and Wales; how many such positions there are; and what assessment they have made of the recruitment trends to such positions, in terms of improved access to, and diversity within, senior positions.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office collects and publishes statistics on the number of police officers employed by each police force in England and Wales on a bi-annual basis. These data are published in the ‘Police workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletins. The Home Office does not collect information on the number of posts available.Detailed data on the number of officers in post, broken down by rank, gender and ethnicity are collected and published on an annual basis only. The requested data, representing the picture as at 31 March 2016, can be found in the attached Table_D1 accompanying the main release here:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-workforce-england-and-wales-31-march-2016Data for previous years can be found in the Open Data Tables, available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/539981/open-data-table-police-workforce-ethnicity.odsThe Government has made it easier than ever before for the public to hold their PCC and chief constable to account over how diverse their force is compared to the local population. Police.uk now gives access to diversity data for officers and police staff, and the profile of BME and female officers by police rank, in comparison to the local force area population. We are in regular discussion with the College of Policing, who are leading work with chief constables and others to improve senior police recruitment.The Government’s direct entry schemes at Inspector and Superintendent ranks help to attract the most talented people into policing, bringing in fresh experience, diversity and perspectives. Of the 40 inspectors and superintendents who have started the scheme so far 43% have been women and 13% were from an ethnic minority background. Chief Constable appointments have also been opened up to those with equivalent experience from overseas.



Table D1 
(Excel SpreadSheet, 290.12 KB)

*No heading*

baroness stern: Her Majesty's Government when the use of waist restraint belts was prohibitedfor pregnant women; andwhy.

baroness williams of trafford: Published Home Office policy on use of force on pregnant women states that it may, if necessary be used only for the prevention of harm either to the pregnant woman or to other persons. It must not be used for reasons of non-compliance by the woman in question. Any action taken must be justified, appropriate and proportionate. Following the introduction of the bespoke Home Office Manual for Escorting Safely (HOMES) restraint system from June 2014 for escort detainee custody officers, operational guidance was implemented in August 2014. The latest guidance is at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/use-of-restraints-for-escorted-moves.  



DSO - HO Manual for Escorting Safely 
(PDF Document, 284.41 KB)

*No heading*

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: Her Majesty's Government when the Migration Advisory Committee is due to present its review of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office intends shortly to commission the Migration Advisory Committee to look at the UK labour market and our reliance on EU migrant labour across sectors, including agriculture.

*No heading*

the lord bishop of st albans: Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to improve recognition among criminal justice professionals of the difference between stalking and harassment; and whether they are planning to introduce stalking protection orders.

baroness williams of trafford: Stalking and harassment are devastating crimes which can destroy the lives of victims. Since 2012, we have strengthened the law by creating specific stalking offences and raising the maximum sentences for both stalking and harassment from 5 to 10 years. Support for victims requires more than prosecution after the fact - that is why, following a public consultation, we are introducing a new civil stalking protection order. Primary legislation is required to introduce the order and will be taken forward as soon as Parliamentary time allows. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Her Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service’s Joint Inspectorate report into stalking and harassment found significant failings in the police and CPS response. The Home Secretary will shortly be holding a meeting with police and CPS leads to ensure coordinated and robust action is taken to respond to the Inspectorate’s findings.

*No heading*

lord mendelsohn: Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 5 July (HL 50), how many inspections of houses or flats offering short–term accommodation to paying guests were carried out by each fire and rescue authority in each year since 2010; and how many of those inspections were found to be (1) satisfactory and (2) unsatisfactory.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office does not centrally collect information on the number of inspections of houses or flats offering short-term accommodation to paying guests carried out by each fire and rescue authority. Information on the number of inspections of houses or flats offering short-term accommodation to paying guests is the responsibility of individual FRSs.

*No heading*

viscount waverley: Her Majesty's Government what modelling they have undertaken to forecast the number of applications for permanent status and consequent (1) rejections, (2) appeals, and (3) deportations, that will result from their offer to enable EU citizens who are resident in the UK to remain in the UK following Brexit; how many additional staff they estimate will be required to manage those applications; whether they intend to publish their model or forecast; andif so, when.

baroness williams of trafford: On Monday 26 June, the UK published the paper ‘The United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union: safeguarding the position of EU citizens living in the UK and UK nationals living in the UK’. Formal negotiations with our EU partners on the shape and nature of the immigration regime that will apply after the UK leaves the EU will soon be underway. The Home Office currently processes several million immigration decisions each year and will ensure that the necessary resources are provided to process applications for the new residence status outlined by the Government. The Home Office has a well-developed process for modelling operational demand that will be used as appropriate to support internal capacity planning.

*No heading*

lord mcinnes of kilwinning: Her Majesty's Government how many people have dual British-Iranian citizenship; and of those, how many are resident in (1) the UK, (2) Iran, and (3) elsewhere.

baroness williams of trafford: Information on the number of British nationals with dual nationality is not held.

*No heading*

lord beecham: Her Majesty's Government towhat timescale they aim to issue decisions on applications from asylum seekers for section 95 accommodation and subsistence support.

baroness williams of trafford: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 20 July 2017.The correct answer should have been:

Asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute can apply for free accommodation and cash support to cover their essential living needs whilst their cases are considered.If they have an emergency need for accommodation they can ask to be put in initial accommodation whilst their support applications are being processed and the vast majority of such requests are processed on the same day. We aim to resolve Section 95 applications received from people in Initial Accommodation within 3 days and other applications from people staying in private accommodation within 10 days. All cases are considered on their own merits, in some cases applicants are asked to provide further information before a decision on eligibility can reached. Information on the average length of time between asylum support application and payment is not routinely collected and could only be provided by examination of individual case records, which would result in disproportionate cost.

lord lee of trafford: Asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute can apply for free accommodation and cash support to cover their essential living needs whilst their cases are considered.If they have an emergency need for accommodation they can ask to be put in initial accommodation whilst their support applications are being processed and the vast majority of such requests are processed on the same day. We aim to resolve Section 95 applications received from people in Initial Accommodation within 3 days and other applications from people staying in private accommodation within 10 days. All cases are considered on their own merits, in some cases applicants are asked to provide further information before a decision on eligibility can reached. Information on the average length of time between asylum support application and payment is not routinely collected and could only be provided by examination of individual case records, which would result in disproportionate cost.

*No heading*

lord beecham: Her Majesty's Government towhat timescale they aim to issue decisions on applications from asylum seekers for section 95 subsistence only support.

baroness williams of trafford: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 20 July 2017.The correct answer should have been:

Asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute can apply for free accommodation and cash support to cover their essential living needs whilst their cases are considered.If they have an emergency need for accommodation they can ask to be put in initial accommodation whilst their support applications are being processed and the vast majority of such requests are processed on the same day. We aim to resolve Section 95 applications received from people in Initial Accommodation within 3 days and other applications from people staying in private accommodation within 10 days. All cases are considered on their own merits, in some cases applicants are asked to provide further information before a decision on eligibility can reached. Information on the average length of time between asylum support application and payment is not routinely collected and could only be provided by examination of individual case records, which would result in disproportionate cost.

lord lee of trafford: Asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute can apply for free accommodation and cash support to cover their essential living needs whilst their cases are considered.If they have an emergency need for accommodation they can ask to be put in initial accommodation whilst their support applications are being processed and the vast majority of such requests are processed on the same day. We aim to resolve Section 95 applications received from people in Initial Accommodation within 3 days and other applications from people staying in private accommodation within 10 days. All cases are considered on their own merits, in some cases applicants are asked to provide further information before a decision on eligibility can reached. Information on the average length of time between asylum support application and payment is not routinely collected and could only be provided by examination of individual case records, which would result in disproportionate cost.

*No heading*

lord beecham: Her Majesty's Government what is the average time taken over the past 12 months for issuing decisions on applications from asylum seekers for section 95 accommodation and subsistence support.

baroness williams of trafford: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 20 July 2017.The correct answer should have been:

Asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute can apply for free accommodation and cash support to cover their essential living needs whilst their cases are considered.If they have an emergency need for accommodation they can ask to be put in initial accommodation whilst their support applications are being processed and the vast majority of such requests are processed on the same day. We aim to resolve Section 95 applications received from people in Initial Accommodation within 3 days and other applications from people staying in private accommodation within 10 days. All cases are considered on their own merits, in some cases applicants are asked to provide further information before a decision on eligibility can reached. Information on the average length of time between asylum support application and payment is not routinely collected and could only be provided by examination of individual case records, which would result in disproportionate cost.

lord lee of trafford: Asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute can apply for free accommodation and cash support to cover their essential living needs whilst their cases are considered.If they have an emergency need for accommodation they can ask to be put in initial accommodation whilst their support applications are being processed and the vast majority of such requests are processed on the same day. We aim to resolve Section 95 applications received from people in Initial Accommodation within 3 days and other applications from people staying in private accommodation within 10 days. All cases are considered on their own merits, in some cases applicants are asked to provide further information before a decision on eligibility can reached. Information on the average length of time between asylum support application and payment is not routinely collected and could only be provided by examination of individual case records, which would result in disproportionate cost.

HM Treasury

Asylum

viscount waverley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they and the Bank of England will be taking to protect and promote (1) the City of London, and (2) Edinburgh, as financial centres until negotiations to exit the EU are completed.

lord beecham: Her Majesty's Government towhat timescale they aim to issue decisions on applications from asylum seekers for section 95 subsistence only support.

lord beecham: Her Majesty's Government what is the average time taken over the past 12 months for issuing decisions on applications from asylum seekers for section 95 accommodation and subsistence support.

lord beecham: Her Majesty's Government what is the average time taken over the past 12 months for assessing, and reaching decisions on, applications from asylum seekers for section 95 accommodation and subsistence support.

lord beecham: Her Majesty's Government what is the average time taken over the past 12 months for assessing, and reaching decisions on, applications from asylum seekers for section 95 accommodation and subsistence support.

baroness williams of trafford: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 20 July 2017.The correct answer should have been:

Asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute can apply for free accommodation and cash support to cover their essential living needs whilst their cases are considered.If they have an emergency need for accommodation they can ask to be put in initial accommodation whilst their support applications are being processed and the vast majority of such requests are processed on the same day. We aim to resolve Section 95 applications received from people in Initial Accommodation within 3 days and other applications from people staying in private accommodation within 10 days. All cases are considered on their own merits, in some cases applicants are asked to provide further information before a decision on eligibility can reached. Information on the average length of time between asylum support application and payment is not routinely collected and could only be provided by examination of individual case records, which would result in disproportionate cost.

lord lee of trafford: Asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute can apply for free accommodation and cash support to cover their essential living needs whilst their cases are considered.If they have an emergency need for accommodation they can ask to be put in initial accommodation whilst their support applications are being processed and the vast majority of such requests are processed on the same day. We aim to resolve Section 95 applications received from people in Initial Accommodation within 3 days and other applications from people staying in private accommodation within 10 days. All cases are considered on their own merits, in some cases applicants are asked to provide further information before a decision on eligibility can reached. Information on the average length of time between asylum support application and payment is not routinely collected and could only be provided by examination of individual case records, which would result in disproportionate cost.

Cabinet Office

Iraq: Internally Displaced People

lord freyberg: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether data about all deaths of NHS cancer patients in England are collected by the National Cancer Registry; and if so, within how many months of death those data are collected.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government whether they have received a request from Dr Russell Blacker and representatives of charities and relief organisations involved with northern Iraq, along with Members of both Houses, for an urgent meeting with the Secretary of State for International Development, to discuss support for minority communities subjected to genocide in northern Iraq; and, if so, how they intend to respond.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports (1) that Christians and Yazidis who have been victims of genocide in Syria and Iraq do not use UN camps because of oppression and persecution that they have experienced within them, and (2) from Jordanian military officials that ISIS jihadis have infiltrated many such camps.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government whether Department for International Development assessors arranged to meet (1) twice with Christians in the Kurdish–Northern Iraq regions, and (2) with those who have given evidence to DfID about the failure to provide support to victims of genocide in northern Iraq and Syria; and if so, whether those assessors failed to attend those meetings in 2015 and subsequently.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government how they intend to ensure their emergency funding for displaced people from Mosul and the Nineveh Plains reaches displaced minorities such as the Yazidis and Christians; and what assessment they have made of the extent to whichtheir policy of neutrality and impartiality will lead to the inclusion or exclusion of those who have been subject to genocide.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government whether they have received a request from Dr Russell Blacker and representatives of charities and relief organisations involved with northern Iraq, along with Members of both Houses, for an urgent meeting with the Secretary of State for International Development, to discuss support for minority communities subjected to genocide in northern Iraq; and, if so, how they intend to respond.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports (1) that Christians and Yazidis who have been victims of genocide in Syria and Iraq do not use UN camps because of oppression and persecution that they have experienced within them, and (2) from Jordanian military officials that ISIS jihadis have infiltrated many such camps.

lord alton of liverpool: Her Majesty's Government whether Department for International Development assessors arranged to meet (1) twice with Christians in the Kurdish–Northern Iraq regions, and (2) with those who have given evidence to DfID about the failure to provide support to victims of genocide in northern Iraq and Syria; and if so, whether those assessors failed to attend those meetings in 2015 and subsequently.

lord bates: The UK Government recognises the specific risks faced by religious minorities in Iraq and Syria, including those who have suffered so horrifically at the hands of Daesh. We are aware of reports that fear of persecution or discrimination in camps may be deterring some people from using them, and are in close touch with our partners involved in the management of camps and the delivery of services within them, including UN agencies. They have clear guidelines, mechanisms and accountability frameworks in place to prevent discrimination by their own staff or those of their partners. DFID takes any allegations that these are not being applied effectively very seriously, and stands ready to follow up specific allegations with the partners concerned. The security of the camps and all those living in them is the responsibility of the appropriate civil authorities (e.g. in Iraq, it lies with the Government of Iraq) and is monitored by independent humanitarian actors such as UNHCR. UK officials stand ready to report any specific allegations of persecution or violence against religious minorities within the camps to those authorities. The Government is concerned about Daesh infiltration inside camps. In Iraq the Iraqi authorities carry out screening of those entering camps in order to seek to prevent such infiltration. UN agencies have set up grievance mechanisms that allow any minority member to anonymously report abuse, persecution or discrimination; these can also be used to report on suspected extremist activity. DFID’s funding for Iraq is targeted towards those who are most in need including vulnerable people from minority communities such as Yazidis and Christians. It is delivered in line with the 2017 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for the whole of Iraq, which is based on comprehensive needs assessments carried out by a wide range of partners. The humanitarian principles of neutrality and impartiality aim to ensure that no one is excluded or discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, or religion, that the specific risks facing minorities are addressed and that assistance reaches those who need it most. In the difficult environments in Syria and Iraq, where access to vulnerable people is often very challenging especially as some actors such as Daesh and the Assad regime deliberately prevent humanitarian access, DFID regularly challenges our partners to demonstrate that they are doing all they can to meet the needs the most vulnerable people, including those from religious minorities. We welcome information from all sources to help us to hold them to account. DFID is not aware of scheduled meetings in 2015 with Christian representatives in Iraq that officials did not attend, but DFID officials regularly meet with representatives of Iraqi Christian and Yezidi communities. DFID Ministers have also met representatives of these communities. DFID has received Dr Russell Blacker’s correspondence and has responded suggesting a meeting is organised with Dr Blacker, Lord Bates and Mr Burt to discuss together.

Department for International Trade

*No heading*

lord cotter: Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made in establishing a network of trade commissioners to highlight the importance of UK exports and to assist UK companies in exporting their products.

lord price: The Government will create a network of Her Majesty's Trade Commissioners to head nine new regional overseas posts. These Commissioners will bring together export promotion, investment, and trade policy overseas. The Department is currently finalising the scope of the roles and will begin recruitment shortly.

Department of Health

*No heading*

lord hunt of kings heath: Her Majesty's Government which organisation is responsible for ensuring that a paediatric audiology service that has not met the standards for Improving Quality in Physiological Services (IQIPS) accreditation addresses the problems found during the accreditation visit.

lord hunt of kings heath: Her Majesty's Government which organisation is responsible for ensuring that a paediatric audiology service that has not met the standards for Improving Quality in Physiological Services (IQIPS) accreditation addresses the problems found during the accreditation visit.

lord hunt of kings heath: Her Majesty's Government how many NHS Trusts achieved Improving Quality in Physiological Services accreditation for their paediatric audiology service in each of the last five financial years.

lord hunt of kings heath: Her Majesty's Government how many contracts for Specialist Audiology Services used by children, and commissioned directly by NHS England, were signed in the financial years (1) 2015-16, and (2) 2016-17.

lord hunt of kings heath: Her Majesty's Government how many contracts for Specialist Audiology Services used by children, and commissioned directly by NHS England, are due to be renegotiated in the financial year 2017-18.

lord hunt of kings heath: Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to ensure that Clinical Commissioning Groups are notified when a paediatric audiology service does not meet the standards for Improving Quality in Physiological Services accreditation following an assessment visit.

lord hunt of kings heath: Her Majesty's Government how many NHS Trusts achieved Improving Quality in Physiological Services accreditation for their paediatric audiology service in each of the last five financial years.

lord hunt of kings heath: Her Majesty's Government how many contracts for Specialist Audiology Services used by children, and commissioned directly by NHS England, were signed in the financial years (1) 2015-16, and (2) 2016-17.

lord hunt of kings heath: Her Majesty's Government how many contracts for Specialist Audiology Services used by children, and commissioned directly by NHS England, are due to be renegotiated in the financial year 2017-18.

lord hunt of kings heath: Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to ensure that Clinical Commissioning Groups are notified when a paediatric audiology service does not meet the standards for Improving Quality in Physiological Services accreditation following an assessment visit.

baroness chisholm of owlpen: The Improving Quality in Physiological Services (IQIPS) accreditation scheme is run by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). The process of accreditation provides an independent assessment that a service meets the accreditation standards. It is the responsibility of the service to ensure that they conform to the standard before application to UKAS for accreditation. There is a pre-registration process within the scheme that enables all services to be able to do an effective gap analysis so that they should be at a point of conforming to the standard on making an application to UKAS. If during an assessment mandatory findings are raised which show non-conformity to any part of the standard then the service agrees appropriate improvement actions with the UKAS team to rectify these and prevent re-occurrence. The UKAS team base their recommendation for accreditation on the findings raised relating to the conformity to the standard, risk and whether the agreed improvement actions are appropriate and can be achieved within a three month close-out period. Therefore any findings raised must be cleared by the organisation if a positive recommendation for accreditation is to be granted. In Commissioning Services for People with Hearing Loss: A framework for clinical commissioning groups, published in July 2016, NHS England strongly encourages clinical commissioning groups to expect providers to have completed the IQIPS self-assessment tool and applied for accreditation with UKAS, and achieve accreditation within the duration of their contract. UKAS are supporting the NHS England business objective to increase the use of accreditation, and information about those services which have achieved accreditation is not held by the Department or NHS England, but is publicly available on the UKAS website. Information on clinical contracts is not held centrally by NHS England.

*No heading*

lord hunt of kings heath: Her Majesty's Government when NHS England plans to produce a commissioning specification for Specialist Audiology Services used by children and commissioned directly by NHS England.

baroness chisholm of owlpen: NHS England has produced the following service specifications for audiology services that it commissions, which apply to all ages and sit in the Trauma Programme of Care (Specialised Ear and Ophthalmology Services): - Specialised Ear Surgery: Cochlear Implants (All Ages); and- Implantable Hearing Aids for Microtia, Bone Anchored Hearing Aids and Middle Ear Implants (All Ages). Copies of these service specifications are attached. NHS England has no plans to publish further service specifications for specialist audiology services used by children. NHS England has also published commissioning policies for the following services that are available for children: - Auditory brainstem implant with congential abnomalities of the auditory nerves of cochleae;- Bone Anchored Hearing Aids; and- Bone conducting hearing implants for hearing loss (all ages).



Specialised Ear Surgery service specification
(PDF Document, 619.84 KB)




Implantable Hearing Aids service specification
(PDF Document, 243.33 KB)

*No heading*

baroness walmsley: Her Majesty's Government when the next meeting of the Crisis Care Concordat Steering Group will take place.

baroness chisholm of owlpen: Departmental officials are liaising with Home Office officials to make arrangements for the next Crisis care Concordat Steering Group meeting later this year.

*No heading*

lord birt: Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord O’Shaughnessy on 23 January (HL4387) and on 3 February (HL4841), whether the new data collection on extended access to general practice includes data on the number of days that general practices were continuously closed over the Christmas and New Year holidays 2016-17; if so, why the Written Answer on 23 January stated that the Department of Health does not hold that information; and if not, whether they intend to extend that data collection to such information.

baroness chisholm of owlpen: The extended access data collection does not collect this information. There are no plans to extend the data collection to cover specific arrangements such as holiday cover. The data collection was agreed following negotiations between the General Practitioner Committee and NHS England, and any change or amendment to it would require further negotiation.